Nishiwaga Town’s New Educational Environment Direction

Nishiwaga Town has introduced a new direction for its educational environment, focusing on an integrated elementary and junior high school education system and the integration of daycare centers. This decision comes in response to the declining number of students at the four elementary and junior high schools and the aging of facilities.

The town’s framework will be centered around the Yuda and Sawauchi districts, with one daycare center in each district. After gathering opinions from parents and conducting surveys, the plan will be officially decided within the fiscal year and gradually introduced by 2028.

This direction is based on the report of the “Mode Review Committee” for nursery schools and schools, conducted in fiscal year 2011. The report highlighted the decline in the number of preschool children and elementary and junior high school students in the town. According to estimates, the number of students will decrease from 295 at the beginning of this fiscal year to 202 at the beginning of fiscal year 2017, leading to the need for multi-grade classes.

In response to this, Sawauchi Elementary School and Sawauchi Junior High School, both over 50 years old, will be redeveloped into integrated or adjacent buildings, introducing an integrated elementary and junior high school system. The location will be decided in fiscal year 2013, with construction starting in fiscal year 2015 and expected to begin use in fiscal year 2016. For the time being, the Yuda district will utilize the school buildings of Yuda Elementary School and Yuda Junior High School.

Key Points of the New Educational Environment Direction

• Integrated elementary and junior high school education system
• Integration of daycare centers in the Yuda and Sawauchi districts
• Redevelopment of Sawauchi Elementary School and Sawauchi Junior High School
• Utilization of Yuda Elementary School and Yuda Junior High School buildings in the Yuda district